G.O.P. Moderate Hopes To Unseat Kennedy in 2006

U.S. Senate hopeful Kevin Scott discussed the importance of gaining moderate support for his 2006 campaign against incumbent Sen. Edward M. Kennedy ’54, D-Mass., last night to about 15 students in the Leverett JCR.

The discussion—sponsored by the Republicans for Social Economic Policy (RSEP), a caucus of the Harvard Republican Club—focused on the importance of convincing Massachusetts residents to vote their views, not their affiliations.

“The Democratic party is going so far to the left on so many issues,” Scott said. “We’ve got to put forward the image that a moderate Republican is electable.”

Scott was optimistic about his chances against Kennedy, who has been in office for more than 40 years. “Groups all over the country are very serious about unseating Ted Kennedy,” Scott said, adding to laughs that, “I think my closet has fewer skeletons.”

After the Wakefield resident mentioned his “grass-roots” background, he went on to discuss the need for tax reform. “I lean more towards a flat tax,” Scott said. “It will bring a lot of new money into the government.”

On the Iraq War, of which Kennedy has been one of the most vocal critics, Scott suggested that enabling the Iraqi military be the number-one priority. “I don’t know if I see that focus,” he said.

Forty-two-year-old Scott founded his own automotive reconditioning service straight out of high school. He has since launched TechnoMatch, a job-placement service for tech companies; received a Business Management degree from Newbury College; and become head of the Wakefield Rails-to-Trails Committee.

Mark A. Shepard ’08, chairman and treasurer of the RSEP, praised Scott’s apparent straightforwardness.

“It impressed me how forthright he was with us. He wasn’t just a distant Washington Senator,” Shepard said.

Carmen Lara ’09 praised Scott’s policy knowledge.

“He’s very well informed, very well prepared,” she said.

But Christopher B. Lacaria ’09 said that unseating a popular incumbent would be a daunting task.

“There’s quite a hill to climb,” he said.